Sear safety operated by loading cover and breech bolt



Feb. 3, 1959 w. B. B'rLERwl-n-AL 2,871,606

' slm SAFETY OPERATED BY LOADING Cowan AND BREECH Bom' Filed Aug. 2, 1957 United Stat SEAR SAFETY OPERATED BY LOADING COVER AND BREECH BOLT tent Patented Feb. E, 1953 ice upwardly is limited Vby the abutment of the shoulder 22 Wallace B. Butler, Branford, and Frank A. Prybyla and The present invention relates to firearms and in particular to single shot, blow-back action rifles.

A particular feature of the invention is the provision of a firearm of the above general class loadable from the top by means of a depressable chute or cover.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a single shot rifle having a safety device which is set automatically each time the rifle is loaded.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a rearrn having a safety device which is set automatically immediately after each occurrence of firing.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a novel trigger-Sear assembly operable to sear up the bolt while the trigger is still held in the firing position by the shooter.

A riiie embodying certain features of the present invention may comprise a receiver, a movable sear, a safety settable to block movement of the sear, a loading cover pivotally mounted to the receiver and depressable to load the rearm, means slidably disposed within the re ceiver and cooperating with the cover and the safety effective to set the safety whenever the cover is depressed.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the succeeding specification when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, in section, of a firearm embracing the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of Fig. 1 as viewed in the plane of the line 2-2 and in the direction of the arrows and;

Fig. 3 is a view of a portion of the showing of Fig. 1 illustrating the trigger"y in the firing position, the bolt having returned to the seared position as a result of blow-back action and prior to the release of the trigger; and

Fig. 4 shows a modification o f the trigger top. t

Referring no w to the drawings there is shown a receiver carrying a barrel 11. A stock 12 is secured to the receiver by means of the cooperating lug 13 and screw 14 in conventional manner. Reference numeral 16 designates a slot formed in the underside of the rearm and effective to permit spent shells to be ejected downwardly.

Reference numeral 17 designates a chute or cover pivotally mounted on the receiver by means of the pin 1S and having an operating lug 19.

The chute is depressable manually in the direction shown by the arrow until the chamber 21 is exposed for loading.' A groove or trough is formed in the cover 17 to guide a cartridge into the chamber while in the depressed position. After loading, release of the cover permits it to move upwardly to the position shown in Fig. l in response to a spring mechanism that will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

Note that in the position shown, rotation of the cover and the lip 23 of the receiver and the cover respectively. Slidably disposed in the receiver is a bolt 24 having a bore 26 for receiving a coil spring 27 and a buffer washer 28. The coil spring 27 is maintained under a compressive load wherein one end thereof is retained against the buffer 28 while the other end encounters a shoulder 29 formed in the bolt.

The bolt also carries an operating rod 31 disposed within a bore 32. The rod 31 is received within the Coil spring 27 and projects through the buffer 28 terminating in a head 30.

The rod is urged to the right by a coil spring 33 with the result that the right end 34 thereof constantly engages the lug -19 urging the cover 17 to the position shown in Fig. l.

Obviously, when the cover 17 is depressed the lug 19 is operable to engage the righty end 34 of the operating rod 31 to move the rod to the left against the spring 33 with the result that the head 30 thereof engages and strikes a corresponding head 36 formed on a safety 37.

In Fig. 1 the safety is shown in the off position wherein a sear indicated generally by the reference numeral 33 is free to rotate in a clockwise direction. Movement of the safety to the left to a position correspondder 41 formed on the Sear.

It is noted that the safety 37 is fitted with a spring detent device 42 effective to retain the safety movably set in the on or off position.

The bolt 24 is provided with an elongated slot 43 to provide clearance for the lug 19 as the bolt moves to the right and to the left during firing.

,The face of the bolt is also provided with a raised lip or projection 44 effective to engage and strike the rim of a cartridge upon release of the bolt to initiate firing.

The Sear 38, pivotally mounted on the receiver by means of the pin 46, carries an upwardly projecting lug 47 operable to engage a cooperating notch 48 formed in the underside of the bolt. The spring detent mechanism 42 is effective to urge the sear in a counterclockwise direction at all times.

The pin 46 also carries a trigger assembly comprising a finger piece 49 and a trigger top 51.

A reference to Fig. 2 will develop a clearer picture of the disposition of the pin 46, the Sear 38, trigger finger ieee V49,' and the trigger top 51.

'The trigger top 51 is formed with an elongated slot 52 and with a lip 53 effective when the trigger top is in the position shown in Fig. l to override or engage a corresponding corner of the sear.`

The trigger top is set into the trigger finger piece as is apparent in Fig. 2 and is constantly urged to the right by a spring pressed plunger 54 (Fig. 1) carried by the Sear.

The trigger top is resiliently urged to the right with sufficient force that upon rotation of the finger piece 49 from the solid line position shown in Fig. 1 to the dotted line position thereof the lip 53 of the trigger top operates to rotate the sear in a clockwise direction effective to release the bolt. Upon release of the bolt, the bolt spring 27 operates to drive the bolt to the right whereupon projection 44 strikes and fires a cartridge disposed in the chamber 21.

While the trigger is held in the dotted line position blow-back action occurs in well known fashion with the result that vthe bolt is thrust to the left. The bolt movesrto the left quickly and within an interval of time that is far less than the time needed for a shooter to release the trigger to permit the Sear to rotate counterclockwise to its normal position where it will be in condition to sear up the bolt. n 1

Consequently, while the trigger finger piece .isrheldin the dotted line position the sear is released in the following fashion:

As the bolt moves to the left fter firing, the 'end' face 56 (Fig. 3) thereof engages and strikes the lip S3 of the' trigger top. Since the trigger top is free `to move to the left by virtue of the elongated slot S2 and the resilience of the spring pressed plunger 54, the bolt drives the trigger top off the scarl freeing the sear to move countercloclt- Wise in response to the urging ofdetent 42. Thus, the lug 47 engages the notch 43 and the bolt is seared up in the fashion shown in Fig. 3.

Ultimately, when the triggernger peceis released and the trigger returns to the solid line position shown in Fig. 1 the spring pressed plunger 54 urges the trigger top Si to follow the finger piece and at the same time moves the top to the right. Thus, when the trigger finger returns to its normalposition the lip 53 of the trigger top jumps upon the corresponding shoulder of the scar in condition to rotate the sear in a clockwise direction when the trigger finger piece is next actuated.

As stated previously the safety 37 is set automatically each time the cover f7 is depressed for loading. The safety is released manually by pushing the operating tab Se to the right so that the lug 39 is clear of the sear.

The safety may also be set by another occurrence; namely, in response to the blow-back action of the bolt. It is to be recalled that the bolt face 56 strikes the lip 53 of thetrigger top driving it off the sear as the bolt moves to the left. y Y

The lug 39 of the safety may be enlarged as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 (or the trigger top may be provided withra projection, see Fig. 4) so that the trigger top, when driven to the left by the bolt, may in turn drive the safety to the left.

in this event the tapered surface on the lug 39 tends to cam the sear in a counterclockwise direction and the lug rides up on the scar to block clockwise rotation thereof.

Thus, the safety may be set, as considerations of design and public appeal dictate, either by the operation of the cover 17 or by the action of the trigger top Si or by both occurrences.

it is anticipated that various lmodifications and arrangements of the present invention may be devised in adapting the principles thereof-.to various firearms structures without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A single shot firearm comprising a receiver, amovable scar, a safety settable to block movement of the sear, a two-element trigger assembly including la first member relatively movable with respect to a second trigger member, said first member being operable to set the safety, a bolt slidably disposed within the receiver and operable upon firing to engage and move said first trigger member to set the safety.

2. A single shot firearm comprising a receiver', a movable sear, a safety settable to block movement of the scar, a loading cover'pivotally mounted on the receiver and depressable to load the firearm, and means movably disposed Within the receiver and cooperating with the cover and the safety effective to set the safety whenever the cover is depressed.

3. A single shot firearm comprising a receiver, a mov abe scar, a safety settable to block movement of the scar, a loading cover pivotally mounted on the receiver and depressable to load the firearm, and an operating rod movably disposed within the receiver and cooperating with the cover and the safety effective to set the safety whenever the cover is depressed.

4. A single shot firearm comprising a receiver, a movable sear, a safety settable to block movement of the scar, a loading cover pivotally mounted on the receiver and depressable to load the firearm, a boit slidable Within the receiver, and rod means movably disposed within the bolt and cooperating with the cover and the safety effective to set the safety whenever the cover is depressed.

5. A single shot, blow-back action firearm comprising a receiver` a movable sear, a safety settable to block movement of the scar, a two-element trigger assembly including a movable trigger top operable to set the safety, la bolt slidably disposed within the receiver and operable in response to blow-back action to engage and move said trigger top to set the safety.

6. A single shot -firearm comprising a receiver, a movable sear, a safety settable to block movement of the sear, a two-element trigger assembly including a 'movable member operable to set the safety, a bolt slidably disposed within the receiver and operable upon firing to engage and move said movable trigger member to set the safety, a loading cover pivotally mounted on said receiver and depressable tovload the firearm, rod means movably disposed Within the bolt and cooperating with the cover and the safety effective to set the safety whenever said cover is depressed.

7. A single shot firearm comprising a receiver, a firing means, a safety mounted upon the the receiver and settable to block operation of the firing means, a loading cover pivotally mounted upon the receiver and depressable to load the firearm, and means movably disposed within the receiver and cooperating with the coverand with the safety effective to set the safety whenever the cover is depressed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,374,378 Rice Apr. 24, 1945 2,390,061 Eklund Dec. 4, 1945 2,422,854 Reising June 24, 1947 2,490,474 Roemer Deo. 6, 1949 

